Erik ten Hag was left stunned after a reporter asked the former Manchester United manager a ‘disgusting’ question following Bayer Leverkusen’s defeat to Chelsea.
Bayer Leverkusen fell 2-0 to Chelsea on Friday evening in their final pre-season outing.
Manager Erik ten Hag will lead his new side into competitive action for the first time next Friday when they face Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal.
However, following the Chelsea defeat, the Dutchman was caught off guard by a reporter’s question — one that had little to do with the match itself.
Rather than discussing the game, the reporter brought up Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent hat-trick for Al Nassr in their 4-0 win over Portuguese club Rio Ave, asking: “Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the players in the best shape right now, scored a hat-trick yesterday. Is he still the problem?”
The question referenced Ten Hag’s fallout with Ronaldo during their time at Manchester United — a rift that contributed to the forward’s departure in 2022. Nearly three years later, the topic seemed out of place.
Responding diplomatically, Ten Hag said: “For me, it’s no problem. He was never the problem. I think that’s the past. It was what happened — it’s the past. After that, we won two trophies at Manchester United. I wish him all the best for the future, and I wish him the best of luck still.”
Fans were quick to react to the exchange on social media.
One commented on Twitter: “No need for that from the reporter.”
Another observed: “Look how hurt he looked by that question… completely blindsided him!”
A third added: “There was absolutely no reason to ask that.”
